Mandevilla plant named ‘Lansouthcarolina’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Lansouthcarolina’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and large pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LANSOUTHCAROLINA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lansouthcarolina’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France. The objective of the breeding program is to create new upright Mandevilla plants with large leaves and flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France in June, 2009 of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandeho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,556, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number 06-812-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France in June, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France, since December, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lansouthcarolina’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lansouthcarolina’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Sunmandeho’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more upright than and not as         vining as plants of ‘Sunmandeho’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Sunmandeho’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunmandeho’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ have yellowish         white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the male parent selection         differ in flower shape and color as plants of the male parent         selection have rounded red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Lanarizona’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,672. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Malause, France, plants of the new Mandevilla differed primarily from plants of ‘Lanarizona’ in flower color as plants of ‘Lanarizona’ have white-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter internodes and were more upright than and not as vining as plants of ‘Lanarizona’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Lansouthcarolina’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flower buds and open flowers of ‘Lansouthcarolina’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in two-liter containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Malause, France and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Lansouthcarolina’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandeho’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,556.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number 06-812-02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 23° C. to             30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at 23° C.             to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six weeks at 23° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six to             eight weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; light yellowish white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 43 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 46.3 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about nine lateral branches developing             per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.             Length: About 18.9 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode             length: About 4.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Color, developing: Close to 145A. Color,             developed: Close to 199A to 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblong to narrowly elliptic or ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Densely pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             143A and 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             144A. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between             N137A and 139A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to             144C.         -   Petiole length.—About 1 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144B to             144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary cymes; flowers star-shaped and face             mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about eleven             flowers developing per inflorescence and about 250 flowers             developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             early summer into the autumn in France.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet and pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 21 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 14.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Color: Close to 157C to 157D;             towards the base and apex, close to 145C to 145D.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 8.9 cm. Depth (length): About             6.7 cm. Tube length: About 4.3 cm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused toward the base. Petal length: About             8.3 cm. Petal width: About 3.8 cm. Petal shape and             appearance: Roughly spatulate; lower 52% of the petal is             fused. Petal apex: Non-symmetrically acute. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety. Throat and tube texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 65B flushed with close to             65C to 65D; color becoming closer to 65A with development;             towards the throat, close to 64D and 31A; throat, close to             11B; base of the throat, close to 145A to 145B. Petal, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 65C to             65D; tube distally, slightly darker than 65B; tube, close to             145B.         -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Sepal length: About 6 mm. Sepal width: About             2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acuminate. Sepal base: Roughly truncate. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Sepal color: Immature, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 145A, apices, close to 46A. Mature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B; apices, close to 46A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 17.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 143B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther             length: About 8 mm. Anther color: Close to 161C to 161D.             Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically             one. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm.             Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Sagittate. Stigma             color: Close to 144C. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be     hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Lansouthcarolina’ as illustrated and described. 